31/08/2010, Safe Gambling

The YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program is an educational program on the risks of gambling. The program addresses to youth aged 8 and up, parents and professionals and it aims to reduce the potential harm associated with youth gambling.

With the recent announcement that Ontario, one of the most populated areas in Canada, is going to introduce internet wagering to its citizens by 2012, the YMCA's programs were welcomed.
Studies have shown that gambling patterns can begin as early as the age of eight, so the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph, one of eighteen Youth Gambling Awareness Programs sites funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, decided to educate their community to reduce the potential harm that can be linked with gambling.

Also, the studies have shown even kids can be problem gamblers as early as six, while youth aged 18 to 24 are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop a gambling problem than adults. Although the YMCA's programs were introduced to schools 10 years ago, the general manager of the program in Toronto, thinks youth are at more risk now than when the program started in schools.

“I'm not going to say it's bad and I'm not going to say it's really good, but I am going to teach you to gamble safely,” Renee Grenier told to a group of students in St. Catharines.
During the educational program, the kids learned the differences between games of chance and skills, and how to identify low to high risks behaviors.

Renee Grenier told the kids aged 10 to 14, to write down on a piece of paper the name of one of their most valuable things. Then, the kids were asked to bet on these things, which belonged to them alone. Renee's example helped the kids to understand value and odds, and what are the responsible things to play at. Kim Charteris, general manager of the program in Toronto, said kids must understand their choices and risks as well.
Children learn all gambling activities have an element of risk, that they cannot solve their problems by gambling, or that they should not carry more money than they are prepared to lose. Also, they learned gambling is entertainment that has a cost and that they should hope to win, but expect to lose as well.

The Youth Gambling Awareness Program works directly with youth, parents, teachers, providing community awareness sessions, presentations to schools and youth organizations, prevention and education programs for helping gamblers to reduce the potential harm associated with youth gambling, etc.